Data-signaling apparatus ford well drilling tools

ABSTRACT

In the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed herein, a well tool having new and improved data-signaling apparatus and carrying a drill bit on its lower end is dependently coupled with a drill string and lowered into a borehole being excavated. During the drilling operation, measurements are successively made of selected borehole conditions, formation properties, or the like, which are converted by the data-signaling apparatus into coded electrical signals for repetitively coupling a rotating shaft to a valve operatively arranged on the tool for selectively interrupting the flow of the drilling fluid being circulated through the drill string. In this manner, the valve is selectively reciprocated to produce a series of encoded pressure pulses in the drilling fluid which are representative of the measurements being obtained. These pressure pulses are transmitted through the drilling fluid to the surface where they are sensed and converted into meaningful indications of the measurements.

[19] [111 3,7H3fil filacomlb Jan. 23, 1973 DATA-SIGNALING APIPARATUS FOR[57] ABSTRACT WELL DRELLHNG TOOLS In the preferred embodiment of theinvention dis- [75] Inventor: Jackson R. Clacomb, Houston, Tex. closedherein, a well tool having new and improved data-signaling apparatus andcarrying a drill bit on its {73] Asmgnee: schnumberger Technologycorpora lower end is dependently coupled with a drill string New Yorkand lowered into a borehole being excavated. During 22 Filed; July 301970 the drilling operation, measurements are successively made ofselected borehole conditions, formation pro- [211 PP N05 59,394 perties,or the like, which are converted by the datasignaling apparatus intocoded electrical signals for 52 us. Cl. ..340/1s LD, 340/18 NCrepetitively mating Shaft a valve 1 CI I n l I n "G01" 1/14 tivelyarranged on the tool for selectively interrupting [58] Fiekd 340/18 LD18 NC the flow of the drilling fluid being circulated through the drillstring. In this manner, the valve is selectively reciprocated to producea series of encoded pressure [56] References Cited pulses in thedrilling fluid which are representative of UNITED STATES PATENTS themeasurements being obtained. These pressure pulses are transmittedthrough the drilling fluid to the AI'pS urface where are sensed andconverted into 3,255,353 6/1966 Sotterbatslloy ..340/l8 LD i f lindications f the measurements 2,700,l 31 1/1955 Otis et al. ..340/l 8LD 2,352,833 7/1944 Hassler ..340/18 LD 3,065,416 1l/l962 Jeter ..340/l8LD Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-N. MoskowitzAttorney-Ernest R. Archambeau, Jr., Stewart F. Moore, David L. Moseley,Edward M. Roney and William R. Sherman 15 Claims, 9 Drawing FiguresPATENTEIJJAN 23 I973 SHEET 2 BF 4 IN VE N TOR Jackson R. Claycomb A 3 FF ATTORNEY PAIENIEDmzs new 3,713,089

SHEET 3 OF 4 g L 7 48 5 E L i Jackson R. C(aycomb IN VE N TOR ATTORNEYDATA-SIGNALTNG APPARATUS FORD WELL DRILLING TOOLS Those skilled in theart have, of course, long recognized the benefits of obtaining variousmeasurements at the bottom of a borehole during the course of a drillingoperation. For instance, such information as the weight on the drillbit, the drill string torque, the inclination and the azimuthaldirection of the borehole, bottom hole pressures and temperatures aswell as various characteristics of the formations being penetrated areall measurements of significant interest.

Various proposals have, of course, been made heretofore for transmittingsuch measurements from the bottom of a borehole to the surface. Of themany different tools proposed, perhaps the most promising of all utilizea condition-responsive valve for selectively interrupting the flow ofthe circulating drilling fluid in a predetermined coded sequencerepresentative of the measurements to produce a series of momentarypressure surges which are successively transmitted through the drillingfluid to the surface for detection by appropriate sensing devices. Theseproposed tools have, therefore, generally employed a typicalsolenoidoperated valve which is coupled to one or more condition sensingdevices by means of appropriate electronic circuitry operativelyarranged for opening and closing the valve in accordance with thissequence.

For various reasons, however, these prior proposals have generally beenconsidered to be unacceptable for commercial drilling operations. Forinstance, since the signaling valves in such prior tools havecustomarily been directly operated by solenoids, the mechanical forcesrequired just for operating these valves are so large that the powerrequirements for these solenoids become excessive in even relativelyshallow wells. Moreover, by virtue of their substantial powerrequirements, the physical size of such solenoids make them impracticalfor the usual sizes of drilling tools.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide new andimproved data-signaling apparatus for use with well-drilling tools andwhich is specially adapted for rapidly transmitting downholemeasurements to the surface with minimum electrical requirements.

This and other objects of the present invention are attained byproviding a well tool adapted to be connected in a drill string having adrill bit dependently coupled thereto for excavating a borehole as adrilling fluid is circulated through the drill string and a fluidpassage arranged in the tool. Data-signaling means are arranged on thetool and include condition-measuring means which are coupled tomeasurement-encoding means adapted for producing coded electricalsignals indicative of one or more selected downhole conditions which maybe experienced during the course of a drilling operation. To generatedistinctive pressure pulses in the circulating drilling fluidrepresentative of such measurements, the measurementencoding meansoperatively drive pressure-signaling means arranged on the tool andincluding a rotatable shaft which is rotatively driven by thecirculating fluid, a reciprocating valve member adapted to momentarilyblock or close the fluid passage for developing each pressure pulse, andvalvc-actuating means which are selectively operable to momentarilycouple the shaft to the valve member for moving the valve member to apassageblocking position for developing a pressure pulse and thenreturning the valve member to a passage-opening position to await thenext electrical signal. The pressure-signaling means further include anactuator which, in response to the electrical signals produced by themeasurement-encoding means, merely initiates the operation of thevalve-actuating means.

The novel features of the present invention are set forth withparticularity in the appended claims. The invention, together withfurther objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by way ofthe following description of exemplary apparatus employing theprinciples of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings,in which: 7

FIG. 1 shows a well tool arranged in accordance with the presentinvention as it will appear while coupled in a drill string during thecourse of a typical drilling operation;

FIG. 2 schematically depicts a preferred embodiment of the well toolshown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A3D are successive elevational cross'sec tional views of the welltool depicted in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 in FIG. 3B;and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are elevational cross-sectional views showing thedata-signaling apparatus of the tool illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3D toillustrate the operating cycle of the data-signaling apparatus.

Turning now to FIG. 1, a new and improved well tool 10 arranged inaccordance with the present invention is depicted coupled in a typicaldrill string 11 having a rotary drill bit 12 dependently coupled theretoand adapted for excavating a borehole 13 through various earthformations as at 14. As the drill string 11 is rotated by a typicaldrilling rig (not shown) at the surface, substantial volumes of adrilling fluid or so-called mud" are continuously pumped downwardlythrough the tubular drill string and discharged from the drill bit 12 tocool the bit as well as to carry earth borings removed by the bit to thesurface as the mud is returned upwardly along the borehole l3 exteriorof the drill string. As is typical, the mud stream is circulated byemploying one or more high-pressure mud pumps (not shown) whichcontinuously draw the fluid from a storage pit or vessel for subsequentrecirculation by the mud pumps. It will be appreciated, therefore, thatthe constantly-circulating mud stream flowing through the drill string11 serves as a transmission medium that is well suited for transmittingpressure surges or pulses to the surface.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention,data-signaling means 15 are arranged on the well tool 10 and includecondition-measuring means 16 such as one or more condition-responsivedevices, as at 17 and 18, which are coupled to an appropriatemeasurement encoder l9 operatively arranged to produce a series of codedelectrical signals that are representative of the measurements beingobtained by the condition-responsive devices. Pressure-signaling means20 coupled to the encoder 19 are operatively arranged to respond tothese coded signals for selectively generating a corresponding series ofpressure pulses in the circulating fluid by momentarily and rapidlyinterrupting the flow of the drilling fluid through the drill string 11.

It will be appreciated, of course, that these transitory pressure pulsesor surges will be similar to those caused by a so-called water hammer."Thus, these pressure waves will be transmitted to the surface by way ofthe mud stream flowing within the drill string II and at the speed ofsound in the particular drilling fluid. Accordingly, as willsubsequently be explained in greater detail, the pressure-signalingmeans produce these pressure pulses to provide encoded representationsor data indicative of one or more downhole conditions sensed by thecondition-measuring devices 17 and 18. This data is, in turn,successively transmitted to the surface in the form of these pressurepulses for detection and conversion into meaningful indications orrecords by suitable surface apparatus 21 such as the new and improvedapparatus disclosed in either US. Pat. NO. 3,488,629 or US. Pat. NO.3,555,504

Turning now to FIG. 2, a schematic view is shown of the new and improvedwell tool 10 just prior to the production of a pressure surge or pulsewhich is to be transmitted to the surface by way of the drilling fluidbeing circulated through the drill string 11. As illustrated, the welltool It) is comprised of an elongated tubular member 22 that iscoaxially arranged within a thick-wall tubular housing 23 which istandemly coupled in the drill string 11 just above the drill bit I2.

Although the inner tubular member 22 may just as well be permanentlymounted in the housing 23, it is preferred to adapt the inner member forselective retrieval to the surface by way of the drill string 11. Tofacilitate this, the inner bore 24 of the tubular housing 23 is reducedto provide an annular shoulder 25 on which the lower end of the tubularmember 22 is cooperatively seated and releasably latched to the housingby means such as one or more inwardly-contractible latch fingers 26having outwardly-enlarged heads as at 27 which are dependently arrangedon the inner member and adapted to contract as they pass through theannular shoulder and spring outwardly again to secure the inner memberin its depicted position. Upright collet fingers 28 havinginwardly-directed shoulders 29 are mounted on the upper end of the innertubular member 22 and cooperatively arranged for receiving aconventional wireline grapple or overshot (not shown) adapted for beingtherewith to permit the inner member to be retrieved to the surfacethrough the drill string 11.

To utilize the flowing mud steam as a motivating source for generatingelectrical power for operation of the new and improved data-signalingmeans 15, a reaction turbine 30 is journalled, as by a bearing 3ll, tothe upper end of the inner member 22 and operatively arranged to berotatively driven by the downwardly-flowing drilling fluid for driving agenerator 32 coupled to the turbine by an elongated shaft 33. Tofacilitate the operation of the turbine 30, the inner bore 24 of theouter housing 23 is enlarged to provide an annular cavity or chamber 34into which the mud stream will be discharged from the outlet ports 35 ofthe turbine. One or more longitudinal passages, as at 36, are formed inthe outer housing 23 for conducting the mud stream from the upperchamber 34 to another chamber 37 formed therebelow in an intermediateportion of the outer housing. It will be appreciated, therefore, thatduring the operation of the well tool 110, the circulation of thedrilling fluid or mud will be effective for continuously driving theturbine 30 and the generator 32 coupled thereto to produce electricalpower for operating the data-signaling means l5.

As depicted in FIG. 2, a second intermediate chamber 38 is formed in theouter housing immediately below the chamber 37 and the outer housing 23is fluidly sealed in relation to the inner member 22 by a sealing member39 mounted between the two intermediate chambers. One or morelongitudinal passages, as at 40, are formed in the outer housing 23 andarranged for communicating the lower chamber 38 with the inner bore 24of the outer housing below the shoulder 25. Lateral ports 41 and 42 arearranged at spaced intervals in the inner member 22 for respectivelycommunicating the intermediate chambers 37 and 38 with the adjacentportion of the longitudinal bore 24 of the inner tubular member. Toproduce the aforementioned pressure pulses, the pressure-signaling means20 include an annular valve member 43 which is slidably arranged in thelongitudinal bore 44 of the inner member 22 and adapted forreciprocating movement therein between an elevated position (asdepicted) between the fluid ports 41 and 42 and a lower port-closingposition where the valve member is blocking the lower ports. It will beappreciated, of course, that by virtue of the annular configuration ofthe valve member 43, there will be no unbalanced longitudinally-actingpressure forces which would otherwise tend to retard the upward anddownward movements of the valve member.

Accordingly, it will be recognized, that so long as the valve member 43remains in its elevated position depicted in FIG. 2, the drilling fluidcan freely circulate from the chamber 37 through the lateral ports 41and 42 and pass without significant restriction into the chamber 38 andon through the fluid passages 40 and the longitudinal bore 24 to thedrill bit 12 therebelow. On the other hand, it will be appreciated thatdownward movement of the valve member 43 to momentarily close the fluidports 42 will produce a corresponding pressure surge or pulse which willbe transmitted back up the mud stream in the drill string ill fordetection at the surface.

Turning now to FIGS. 3A-3D as well as FIG. 4, a preferred embodiment isdepicted of the new and improved well tool 10 of the present inventionwith minor constructional details thereof being simplified or omitted tofacilitate the explanation of the invention. As depicted in FIG. 3A, thereaction turbine 30 is arranged above the upper end of the inner member22 and, as previously mentioned, operatively arranged for rotativelydriving the shaft 33 and the generator 32 mounted therebelow. To protectthe various moving elements of the well tool 10, the upper end of theinner member 22 is closed and fluidly sealed by an annular piston 45which is slidably arranged within the longitudinal bore 44 of the innermember. A sealing member 46 carried by the piston 45 is suitablyarranged for fluidly sealing the rotatable shaft 33. The internal bore44 of the inner member 22 between the piston 45 and one or more fluidseals 47 and 48 above the valve member 43 is filled with a suitable oilso that the internal bore will be maintained at the hydrostatic pressureof the drilling fluid.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the generator shaft 49 is extended below thegenerator 32 and co-rotatively secured to a tubular shaft 50 by meanssuch as one or more longitudinal splines 51 on the generator shaft whichare slidably received within complemental spline grooves 52 arrangedwithin the upper end of the tubular shaft for permitting the tubularshaft to slide longitudinally in relation to the generator shaft. Thus,as will subsequently be explained in greater detail, the tubular shaft50 is cooperatively arranged for limited axial movement in relation tothe generator shaft 49 but is co-rotatively secured thereto by means ofthe splines 51 and the grooves 52.

The pressure-signaling means include valve-actuating means 53 adaptedfonutilizing therotation of the turbine 30 to reciprocate the valvemember 43. [n the preferred manner of accomplishing this, oppositehandedthreads 54 and 55 are arranged at spaced inter vals along the tubularshaft 50. As illustrated in FIGS. 38 and 4, a pawl 56 havingopposite-handed, inwardlydirected thread segments 57 and 58 at its upperand lower ends, respectively, is operatively arranged in an uprightposition within the internal bore 44 of the inner member 22 to positionthe thread segments adjacent to the threads 54 and 55 on the tubularshaft 50. To mount the pawl 56, a pair of inwardly-directed arms 59 and60 are arranged on the mid-portion of the pawl and are pivotally coupledto the inner member 22 by a pair of transversely-oriented pivots 61 and62 on opposite sides of the tubular shaft 50 so that the pawl can betilted or rocked about the axis defined by the pivots. Biasing means,such as a laterally-oriented spring 63 between the inner member 22 andthe back of the rocking pawl 56 at a point below the axis of the pivotpins 61 and 62, are operatively arranged for normally tilting the upperend of the pawl outwardly away from the tubular shaft 50.

To shift the pawl 56 to the position illustrated in FIG. 3B, thevalve-actuating means 53 further include a solenoid 64 which is mountedwithin a body 65 secured to the inner member 22 and has alongitudinally-movable actuator 66 operatively arranged for movementupwardly into engagement with the lower end of the rocking pawl uponenergization of the solenoid. Thus, as illustrated, when the solenoid 64is energized, the ac tuator 66 will engage the lower end of the pawl 56causing its lower end to tilt outwardly about the transverse axis of thepivots 61 and 62 thereby shifting the upper thread segments 57 inwardlyinto threading engagement with the upper threads 54 on the tubular shaft50.

By making the upper threads 54 and the upper thread segments 57right-handed, for example, it will be appreciated that when the pawl 56is tilted to the position shown in FIG. 3B, clockwise rotation of theshafts 33 and 49 will be effective for progressively threading thetubular shaft downwardly along the upper thread segments and lowering itin relation to the generator shaft. A downwardly-directed inclinedshoulder 67 is arranged around the tubular shaft 50 just above the upperthreads 54 so that once the shoulder has been rotated under the upperthread segments 57, the upper end of the pawl 56 will, with the aid ofthe spring 63, be cammed laterally outwardly to disengage the upperthread segments from the upper threads. It will be appreciated that oncethe upper end of the pawl 56 is tilted outwardly, the spring 63 willretain the rocking pawl in that position to await the next actuation ofthe solenoid 64.

On the other hand, once the rocking pawl 56 is tilted outwardly, thelower thread segments 58 (which are preferably left-handed) will beshifted inwardly into engagement with the left-handed lower threads 55on the tubular shaft 50. Thus, when the lower thread segments 58 areengaged with the lower threads 55, the continuous clockwise rotation ofthe shafts 33 and 49 will be effective for returning the tubular shaftupwardly in relation to the generator shaft. Accordingly, it will beappreciated that by virtue of the unique arrangement of thevalve-actuating means 53, the continuous rotation ofthe shafts 33 and 49will be effective for alternately raising and lowering the tubular shaft50 in relation to the housing 23 according to the position of therocking pawl 56 as determined by the selective operation of the solenoid64.

It will, of course, be appreciated that the valve member 43 could bedirectly coupled to the reciprocat ing tubular shaft 50. A rigidconnection between the shaft 50 and the valve member 43 could, however,result in damage to the valve-actuating means 53 should the valve memberinadvertently become stuck as by debris becoming lodged between thevalve member and the inner member 22. To avoid this, as best seen inFIGS. 3B and 3C, an elongated rod 68 slidably fitted within the tubularshaft 50 is extended downwardly through the internal bore 44 of theinner member 22 and the fluid seals 47 and 48 and coupled to the upperend of the annular valve member 43. As best illustrated in FIG. 3B,biasing means, such as a coil spring 69 coaxially arranged around theelongated rod 68 and engaged between the body 65 and adownwardly-directed shoulder 70 on the rod, are provided for normallyurging the rod upwardly. The internal bore of the tubular shaft 50 isenlarged as at 71 to define therein opposed upwardly anddownwardlydirected shoulders 72 and 73 and a coil spring 74 is coaxiallyfitted around a reduced portion 75 of the elongated rod 68 which alsodefines opposed upwardly and downwardly-directed shoulders 76 and 77 onthe rod. A pair of washers 78 and 79 are engaged with the opposite endsof the spring 74 and slidably mounted around the reduced-diameterportion 75 of the elongated rod 68.

By cooperatively sizing the washers as illustrated, it will be seen thatso long as the elongated rod 68 remains in the same longitudinalposition in relation to the tubular shaft 50, the washers 78 and 79 willrespectively straddle the lower shoulders 72 and 76 and the uppershoulders 73 and 77. Thus, upward and downward movements of thereciprocating tubular shaft 50 will be effective for moving the rod 68and the valve member 43 upwardly and downwardly in unison with theshaft. On the other hand, should the valve member 43 become stuck,downward movements of tubular shaft 50 will not be unduly hampered sincethe shoulder 73 will engage the upper washer 79 and begin compressingthe spring 74 to allow the tubular shaft to move freely downwardly inrelation to the elongated rod 68. Conversely, should the valve member 43become stuck in some position lower than that depicted in FIGS. 38 and3C, upward movements of the tubular shaft 50 in relation to theelongated rod 68 will similarly cause the lower washer 78 to be elevatedabove the shoulder 76 to again compress the spring 74. Accordingly,should the valve member 43 become stuck, the tubular shaft 50 will befree to reciprocate as well as rotate without undue interference.Moreover, by virtue of the cooperative arrangement of the spring 74 andthe washers 78 and 79, the continued reciprocation of the tubular shaftt will successively subject the elongated rod 68 to alternate upward anddownward impacts which will hopefully free the valve member 43 and allowit to again be repetitively opened and closed.

Turning now to the operation of the new and im proved well tool 10. Thesolenoid 64 is initially unenergized so that the actuating rod 66 willinitially be in its retracted position. When the solenoid 64 isunenergized, the rocking pawl 56 will, therefore, be tilted outwardly soas to disengage the upper thread segments 57 from the upper threads 54on the tubular shaft 50. The lower thread segments 58 will be below thelower threads 55. Thus, as depicted in FIGS. 3B and 3C, with the valvemember 43 in its elevated position the tubular shaft 50 will be free torotate as the circulating drilling fluid continues to flow through thereaction turbine 30.

Once, however, an electrical signal is provided by thecondition-measuring means 16 for energizing the solenoid 64, theactuator 66 will be shifted upwardly into engagement with the lower endof the rocking pawl 56. Thus, as shown in FIG. 3B, the rocking pawl 56will be tilted inwardly so as to bring the upper thread segments 57 intoengagement with the upper threads 54 on the tubular shaft 50. Once thisis accomplished, continued rotation of the generator shaft 49 and thetubular shaft 50 will be effective for rotatively shifting the tubularshaft downwardly in rotation to the generator shaft.

By virtue of the coil spring 74 and the washers 78 and 79, the downwardtravel of the tubular shaft 50 will be effective for shifting theelongated rod 68 downwardly against the relatively-light coil spring 69to move the annular valve member 43 from its open position asillustrated in FIG. 3C to its port-closing position as illustrated inFIG. 5. Simultaneously once the upper threads 54 have been threadedlydriven below the upper thread segments 57, the downwardly-directedshoulder 67 will be effective for camming the upper end of the rockingpawl 56 outwardly to cooperatively engage the lower thread segments 58with the upper portion of the lower threads 55. Thus, the continuedrotation of the tubular shaft 50 will be effective for quickly returningthe tubular shaft upwardly in relation to the generator shaft 49. Upwardmovement of the tubular shaft 50 will, of course, be effective forreturning the elongated rod 68 upwardly to restore the valve member 43to its elevated position.

As best seen in FIG. 6, once the lower threads have moved upwardly outof threaded engagement with the lower thread segments, furtherreciprocating movements of the tubular shaft 50 will cease inasmuch asneither of the thread segments 57 or 58 are in engagement with the upperor the lower threads 54 and 55. Thus, so long as the solenoid 64 remainsunenergized the actuating rod 66 will remain in the retracted positionillustrated in FIG. 6 and the continued rotation of the generator shaft49 and the tubular shaft 50 will be ineffective for operating the valvemember 43. It will,

of course, be appreciated that energization of the solenoid 64 will beeffective for again tilting the upper portion of the rocking pawl 56inwardly so as to coengage the upper thread segments 57 with the upperthreads 54 as shown in FIG. 3B. To assure that the shaft 49 and 50 willcontinue to rotate while the valve member 43 is momentarily closed, itis preferred that the rotating portion of the generator 22 include aflywheel (not shown). It will also be recognized that a suitable bypasscan be arranged around the ports 41 and 42 so that a limited quantity ofdrilling fluid will continue to flow for driving the turbine 30 when thevalve member is momentarily in its port-closing position.

Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the new and improveddata-signaling means of the present invention are particularly suitedfor rapidly transmitting downhole measurements to the surface. Byarranging the valve-actuating means in accordance with the principles ofthe present invention, the circulation of the drilling fluid through thewell tool will be momentarily halted or slowed to produce each pressuresignal without requiring the use of a large or slow-moving solenoidactuator for operating the valve controlling the fluid circulation.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been shownand described, it is apparent that changes and modifications may be madewithout departing from this invention in its broader aspects; and,therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changesand modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of thisinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus adapted for transmitting data to the surface during thedrilling of a borehole and comprising: a body adapted for connection ina tubular drill string and having a flow passage arranged to carrydrilling fluids between the surface and a boreholedrilling devicedependently coupled therebelow; pressure-signaling means on said bodyand including valve means adapted for reciprocating movement betweenpassage-opening and passage-obstructing positions to regulate the flowof drilling fluids through said flow passage and produce pressure pulsesin such fluids for transmission therethrough to the surface; a fluidturbine operatively arranged in said flow passage and adapted to berotatively driven by drilling fluids flowing through said flow passage;motion-converting means operatively arranged between said fluid turbineand said valve means and adapted for selectively reciprocating saidvalve means between said positions upon rotation of said fluid turbine,said motion-converting means including a first shaft coupled to saidfluid turbine and adapted to be rotatively driven thereby in a selectedrotative direction, a second shaft coupled to said valve means andadapted to impart reciprocating movement thereto, means corotativelysecuring said shafts to one another and adapted for enabling said secondshaft to reciprocate axially in relation to said first shaft, and firstand second sets of oppositely-handed threads arranged along said secondshaft; and actuating means responsive to electrical signals operativelyassociated with said motion-converting means and adapted for selectivelyactuating said motion-converting means toreciprocate said valve means,said actuating means including threaded means movably mounted on saidbody and having first and second oppositelyhhanded complemental threadsrespectively adapted for selective movement into and out of engagementwith said first and second sets of threads on said second shaft, saidfirst threads being cooperatively arranged so that upon threadedengagement with one another rotation of said shaft in said rotativedirection will move said second shaft in one axial direction in relationto said first shaft, said second threads being cooperatively arranged sothat upon threaded engagement with one another rotation of said shaftsin said rotative direction will move said second shaft in the otheraxial direction in relation to said first shaft, and electrical meansresponsive to said electrical signals adapted for selectively movingsaid threaded means at least into engagement with said second shaft.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including electrical signaling meanson said body coupled to said electrical means and adapted for producingelectrical signals representative of at least one downhole condition torepetitively operate said electrical means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further including an electrical generatorcoupled to said fluid turbine and adapted for supplying electrical powerto said electrical signaling means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second shafts are incoincidental alignment with one another.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second shafts are incoincidental alignment with one another and are extended longitudinallyin relation to said body.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said threaded means include a pawlmember movably mounted on said body adjacent to said first and secondsets of threads and having said first and second complemental threadsarranged thereon to be alternately engaged with said first and secondsets of threads respectively upon movement of said pawl member to firstand second positions; and said electrical means include a solenoidactuator operatively associated with said pawl member and adapted, uponenergization, to move said pawl member to at least one ofits saidpositions.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further including cam means operativelyarranged on said second shaft and adapted for moving said pawl memberfrom its said one position to its other position upon axial movement ofsaid second shaft carrying one of said sets of threads out of threadedengagement with its associated complemental threads on said pawl member.

8. Apparatus adapted for determining at least one downhole conditionwhile drilling a borehole and comprising: a body tandemly coupled in atubular drill string having a borehole-drilling device dependentlycoupled thereto and defining a flow passage for circulating drillingfluids between the surface and said borehole-drilling device;data-signaling means on said body adapted for producing electricalsignals indicative of at least one downhole condition;pressure-signaling means on said body adapted for developing pressurepulses in drilling fluids flowing through said drill string fortransmission to the surface and including a valve member adapted forreciprocating movement between an inactive position and an activeposition obstructing said flow passage to produce said pressure pulses;a

fluid turbine operatively arranged in said flow passage and adapted tobe rotatively driven by drilling fluids therethrough; andmotion-converting means responsive to said electrical signalsoperatively arranged between said valve member and said fluid turbineand adapted upon rotation thereof for selectively reciprocating saidvalve member between its said positions each time said data-signalingmeans produce an electrical signal, said motion-converting meansincluding a shaft coupled to said valve member, means corotativelycoupling said shaft to said fluid turbine without preventing axialreciprocating movement of said shaft in relation thereto, a set ofthreads arranged along said shaft, a pawl member movably mounted on saidbody adjacent to said shaft and having complemental threads arrangedthereon and adapted for coengagement with said shaft threads uponmovement of said pawl member toward said shaft so that rotation of saidshaft by said fluid turbine will shift said shaft in one axial directionas said shaft threads are threaded along said pawl threads, meansoperative upon engagement of said shaft threads from said pawl threadsfor returning said shaft in the opposite axial direction to againreposition said shaft threads adjacent to said pawl threads, andelectrical means cooperatively associated with said pawl member andadapted for selectively moving said pawl member toward said shaft eachtime said data-signaling means produce an electrical signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said shaft is tubular; and furtherincluding a second shaft coaxially disposed in said tubular shaft andsecured to said valve member, and means yieldably coupling said secondshaft to said tubular shaft for permitting axial movement of saidtubular shaft in relation to said second shaft.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 further including means adapted to belocated at the surface and responsive to said pressure pulses forproviding indications of said pressure pulses.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 further including an electrical generatorcoupled to said fluid turbine and adapted for supplying power to saidmotion-converting means for operation thereof.

12. Apparatus adapted for determining at least one downhole conditionwhile drilling a borehole and comprising: a body tandemly coupled in atubular drill string having a borehole-drilling device dependentlycoupled thereto and defining a flow passage for circulating drillingfluids between the surface and said borehole-drilling device;data-signaling means on said body adapted for producing electricalsignals indicative of at least one downhole condition;pressure-signaling means on said body adapted for developing pressurepulses in drilling fluids flowing through said drill string fortransmission to the surface and including a valve member adapted forreciprocating movement between an inactive position and an activeposition obstructing said flow passage to produce said pressure pulses;a fluid turbine operatively arranged in said flow passage and adapted toto be rotativeiy driven by drilling fluids flowing therethrough; andmotion-converting means responsive to said electrical signalsoperatively arranged between said valve member and said fluid turbineand adapted upon rotation thereof for selectively reciprocating saidvalve member between its said positions each time said data-signalingmeans produce an electrical signal, said motion-converting meansincluding a shaft coupled to said valve member, means corotativelycoupling said shaft to said fluid turbine without preventing axialreciprocating movement of said shaft in relation thereto, first andsecond sets of oppositely-handed threads arranged along said shaft, apawl member movably mounted on said body adjacent to said shaft andhaving first and second sets of complemental oppositely-handed threadsarranged thereon respectively adapted to be alternately coengaged withsaid first and second shaft threads upon alternate movements of saidpawl member toward said shaft so that rotation of said shaft by saidfluid turbine will shift said shaft in one axial direction as said firstshaft threads are threaded along said first pawl threads and shift saidshaft in the opposite axial direction as said second shaft threads arethreaded along said second pawl threads, means operative upondisengagement, of said first shaft threads from said first pawl threadsfor moving said pawl member to engage said second pawl threads with saidsecond shaft threads, and electrical means cooperatively associated withsaid pawl member and adapted for selectively moving said pawl membertoward said shaft to coengage said first threads each time saiddata-signaling means produce an electrical Signal.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said shaft is tubular; and furtherincluding a second shaft coaxially disposed in said tubular shaft andsecured to said valve member, and means yieldably coupling said secondshaft to said tubular shaft for permitting axial movement of saidtubular shaft in relation to said second shaft. 7

14. The apparatus of claim 12 further including means adapted to belocated at the surface and responsive to said pressure pulses forproviding indications of said pressure pulses.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 further including an electrical generatorcoupled to said fluid turbine and adapted for supplying power to saidmotion-converting means for operation thereof.

1. Apparatus adapted for transmitting data to the surface during thedrilling of a borehole and comprising: a body adapted for connection ina tubular drill string and having a flow passage arranged to carrydrilling fluids between the surface and a borehole-drilling devicedependently coupled therebelow; pressure-signaling means on said bodyand including valve means adapted for reciprocating movement betweenpassage-opening and passage-obstructing positions to regulate the flowof drilling fluids through said flow passage and produce pressure pulsesin such fluids for transmission therethrough to the surface; a fluidturbine operatively arranged in said flow passage and adapted to berotatively driven by drilling fluids flowing through said flow passage;motion-converting means operatively arranged between said fluid turbineand said valve means and adapted for selectively reciprocating saidvalve means between said positions upon rotation of said fluid turbine,said motion-converting means incLuding a first shaft coupled to saidfluid turbine and adapted to be rotatively driven thereby in a selectedrotative direction, a second shaft coupled to said valve means andadapted to impart reciprocating movement thereto, means corotativelysecuring said shafts to one another and adapted for enabling said secondshaft to reciprocate axially in relation to said first shaft, and firstand second sets of oppositely-handed threads arranged along said secondshaft; and actuating means responsive to electrical signals operativelyassociated with said motion-converting means and adapted for selectivelyactuating said motion-converting means to reciprocate said valve means,said actuating means including threaded means movably mounted on saidbody and having first and second oppositely-handed complemental threadsrespectively adapted for selective movement into and out of engagementwith said first and second sets of threads on said second shaft, saidfirst threads being cooperatively arranged so that upon threadedengagement with one another rotation of said shaft in said rotativedirection will move said second shaft in one axial direction in relationto said first shaft, said second threads being cooperatively arranged sothat upon threaded engagement with one another rotation of said shaftsin said rotative direction will move said second shaft in the otheraxial direction in relation to said first shaft, and electrical meansresponsive to said electrical signals adapted for selectively movingsaid threaded means at least into engagement with said second shaft. 2.The apparatus of claim 1 further including electrical signaling means onsaid body coupled to said electrical means and adapted for producingelectrical signals representative of at least one downhole condition torepetitively operate said electrical means.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2further including an electrical generator coupled to said fluid turbineand adapted for supplying electrical power to said electrical signalingmeans.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second shaftsare in coincidental alignment with one another.
 5. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein said first and second shafts are in coincidentalalignment with one another and are extended longitudinally in relationto said body.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said threaded meansinclude a pawl member movably mounted on said body adjacent to saidfirst and second sets of threads and having said first and secondcomplemental threads arranged thereon to be alternately engaged withsaid first and second sets of threads respectively upon movement of saidpawl member to first and second positions; and said electrical meansinclude a solenoid actuator operatively associated with said pawl memberand adapted, upon energization, to move said pawl member to at least oneof its said positions.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 further including cammeans operatively arranged on said second shaft and adapted for movingsaid pawl member from its said one position to its other position uponaxial movement of said second shaft carrying one of said sets of threadsout of threaded engagement with its associated complemental threads onsaid pawl member.
 8. Apparatus adapted for determining at least onedownhole condition while drilling a borehole and comprising: a bodytandemly coupled in a tubular drill string having a borehole-drillingdevice dependently coupled thereto and defining a flow passage forcirculating drilling fluids between the surface and saidborehole-drilling device; data-signaling means on said body adapted forproducing electrical signals indicative of at least one downholecondition; pressure-signaling means on said body adapted for developingpressure pulses in drilling fluids flowing through said drill string fortransmission to the surface and including a valve member adapted forreciprocating movement between an inactive position and an activeposition obstructing said flow passage to produce said pressure Pulses;a fluid turbine operatively arranged in said flow passage and adapted tobe rotatively driven by drilling fluids therethrough; andmotion-converting means responsive to said electrical signalsoperatively arranged between said valve member and said fluid turbineand adapted upon rotation thereof for selectively reciprocating saidvalve member between its said positions each time said data-signalingmeans produce an electrical signal, said motion-converting meansincluding a shaft coupled to said valve member, means corotativelycoupling said shaft to said fluid turbine without preventing axialreciprocating movement of said shaft in relation thereto, a set ofthreads arranged along said shaft, a pawl member movably mounted on saidbody adjacent to said shaft and having complemental threads arrangedthereon and adapted for coengagement with said shaft threads uponmovement of said pawl member toward said shaft so that rotation of saidshaft by said fluid turbine will shift said shaft in one axial directionas said shaft threads are threaded along said pawl threads, meansoperative upon engagement of said shaft threads from said pawl threadsfor returning said shaft in the opposite axial direction to againreposition said shaft threads adjacent to said pawl threads, andelectrical means cooperatively associated with said pawl member andadapted for selectively moving said pawl member toward said shaft eachtime said data-signaling means produce an electrical signal.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 8 wherein said shaft is tubular; and furtherincluding a second shaft coaxially disposed in said tubular shaft andsecured to said valve member, and means yieldably coupling said secondshaft to said tubular shaft for permitting axial movement of saidtubular shaft in relation to said second shaft.
 10. The apparatus ofclaim 8 further including means adapted to be located at the surface andresponsive to said pressure pulses for providing indications of saidpressure pulses.
 11. The apparatus of claim 8 further including anelectrical generator coupled to said fluid turbine and adapted forsupplying power to said motion-converting means for operation thereof.12. Apparatus adapted for determining at least one downhole conditionwhile drilling a borehole and comprising: a body tandemly coupled in atubular drill string having a borehole-drilling device dependentlycoupled thereto and defining a flow passage for circulating drillingfluids between the surface and said borehole-drilling device;data-signaling means on said body adapted for producing electricalsignals indicative of at least one downhole condition;pressure-signaling means on said body adapted for developing pressurepulses in drilling fluids flowing through said drill string fortransmission to the surface and including a valve member adapted forreciprocating movement between an inactive position and an activeposition obstructing said flow passage to produce said pressure pulses;a fluid turbine operatively arranged in said flow passage and adapted toto be rotatively driven by drilling fluids flowing therethrough; andmotion-converting means responsive to said electrical signalsoperatively arranged between said valve member and said fluid turbineand adapted upon rotation thereof for selectively reciprocating saidvalve member between its said positions each time said data-signalingmeans produce an electrical signal, said motion-converting meansincluding a shaft coupled to said valve member, means corotativelycoupling said shaft to said fluid turbine without preventing axialreciprocating movement of said shaft in relation thereto, first andsecond sets of oppositely-handed threads arranged along said shaft, apawl member movably mounted on said body adjacent to said shaft andhaving first and second sets of complemental oppositely-handed threadsarranged thereon respectively adapted to be alternately coengaged withsaid first and second shaft threads upon alternate movements of saidpawl member towArd said shaft so that rotation of said shaft by saidfluid turbine will shift said shaft in one axial direction as said firstshaft threads are threaded along said first pawl threads and shift saidshaft in the opposite axial direction as said second shaft threads arethreaded along said second pawl threads, means operative upondisengagement, of said first shaft threads from said first pawl threadsfor moving said pawl member to engage said second pawl threads with saidsecond shaft threads, and electrical means cooperatively associated withsaid pawl member and adapted for selectively moving said pawl membertoward said shaft to coengage said first threads each time saiddata-signaling means produce an electrical signal.
 13. The apparatus ofclaim 12 wherein said shaft is tubular; and further including a secondshaft coaxially disposed in said tubular shaft and secured to said valvemember, and means yieldably coupling said second shaft to said tubularshaft for permitting axial movement of said tubular shaft in relation tosaid second shaft.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12 further including meansadapted to be located at the surface and responsive to said pressurepulses for providing indications of said pressure pulses.
 15. Theapparatus of claim 12 further including an electrical generator coupledto said fluid turbine and adapted for supplying power to saidmotion-converting means for operation thereof.